Methods, arrangements and systems for polarization-sensitive optical frequency domain imaging of a sample

ABSTRACT

Arrangements and methods are provided for obtaining data associated with a sample. For example, at least one first electro-magnetic radiation can be provided to a sample and at least one second electro-magnetic radiation can be provided to a reference (e.g., a non-reflective reference). A frequency of such radiation(s) can repetitively vary over time with a first characteristic period. In addition, a polarization state of the first electro-magnetic radiation, the second electro-magnetic radiation, a third electro-magnetic radiation (associated with the first radiation) or a fourth electro-magnetic radiation (associated with the second radiation) can repetitively vary over time with a second characteristic period which is shorter than the first period. The data for imaging at least one portion of the sample can be provided as a function of the polarization state. In addition or alternatively, the third and fourth electro-magnetic radiations can be combined so as to determine an axial reflectance profile of at least one portion of the sample.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/789,739, filed Apr. 5, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

The research leading to the present invention was supported, at least in part, by National Institute of Health—NCRR, Grant number R019768 and National Institute of Health—NEI, Grant number EY 014975. Thus, the U.S. government may have certain rights in the invention.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods, arrangements and systems which obtain information associated with an anatomical structure or a sample using optical microscopy, and more particularly to such methods, systems and arrangements that provide polarization-sensitive optical frequency domain imaging of the anatomical structure/sample.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) techniques, which may be also known as swept source or Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) techniques, are OCT procedures which generally use swept laser sources. For example, an optical beam is focused into a tissue, and the echo time delay and amplitude of light reflected from tissue microstructure at different depths are determined by detecting spectrally resolved interference between the tissue sample and a reference as the source laser wavelength is rapidly and repeatedly swept. A Fourier transform of the signal generally forms an image data along the axial line (e.g., an A-line). A-lines are continuously acquired as the imaging beam is laterally scanned across the tissue in one or two directions that are orthogonal to the axial line. The resulting two or three-dimensional data sets can be rendered and viewed in arbitrary orientations for gross screening, and individual high-resolution cross-sections can be displayed at specific locations of interest. This exemplary procedure allows clinicians to view microscopic internal structures of tissue in a living patient, facilitating or enabling a wide range of clinical applications from disease research and diagnosis to intraoperative tissue characterization and image-guided therapy.

The contrast mechanism in the OFDI techniques is generally an optical back reflection originating from spatial reflective-index variation in a sample or tissue. The result may be a so-called intensity image that may indicate the anatomical structure of tissue up to a few millimeters in depth with spatial resolution ranging typically from 2 to 20 μm. While the intensity image can provide a significant amount of morphological information, birefringence in tissues may offer another contrast useful in several applications such as quantifying the collagen content in tissue and evaluating disease involving the birefringence change in tissue. Certain methods and apparatus, so called polarization-sensitive OFDI or OCT, have been utilized. In the conventional methods, the polarization state of probe beam can be alternated between two states in successive axial line (A-line) scans, while the beam is scanned laterally across the sample. Each pair of successive polarization measurements may form a single axial birefringence profile of a sample via the vector analysis. This conventional method utilizes the substantial overlap of the probe beam in the sample between the two A-line scans to avoid speckle-induced errors. Therefore, a compromise can be explored between the accuracy in birefringence measurement and the image acquisition speed. Furthermore, due to the relatively long delay between A-line scans, the conventional method is likely sensitive to a mechanical motion of the sample or catheter.

Exemplary system and method for obtaining polarization sensitive information is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,208,415. Exemplary OFDI techniques and systems are described in International Application No. PCT/US04/029148. Method and system to determine polarization properties of tissue is described in International Application No. PCT/US05/039374. Using the exemplary OFDI techniques, it may be desirable to implement a balanced detection. However, the balanced detection may complicate the fiber implementation of the polarization sensitivity and polarization diversity because two signal channels that are balanced can have different polarization states.

Accordingly, there is a need to overcome the deficiencies as described herein above.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

To address and/or overcome the above-described problems and/or deficiencies, exemplary embodiments of systems, arrangements and processes can be provided that are capable of, e.g., balanced detection schemes, where the channels are not balanced by two signal carrying channels, but by a signal carrying channel and a reference channel.

For example, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method, system and arrangement can be provided for polarization-sensitive OFDI, which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks important in high-speed OFDI applications. In particular, it is possible to alternate the polarization state of the probe beam rapidly over successive wavelength samples rather than A-line scans. This exemplary technique can allow each pair of polarization measurements to be taken instantaneously (per wavelength), considerably mitigating the problems in lateral scan speed and motion artifacts. According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a rapid polarization modulator capable of independently controlling the phase and group delay between two polarization states can be used. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be used for clinical volumetric imaging of coronary arteries, gastrointestinal tracts, and eyes.

In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an arrangement, system and method can be provided for performing a cross-sectional imaging of a biological sample via the measurement of polarization-dependent back reflection from the sample. According to one exemplary embodiment, a polarization modulating arrangement can be used to vary the polarization state of an imaging optical beam as a function of wavelength (or time) rapidly and periodically during each wavelength scan of the light source. For example, the polarization modulator can be an electro- or acousto-optic modulator and/or a birefringence medium.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, arrangements and methods can be provided for obtaining data associated with a sample. For example, at least one first electro-magnetic radiation can be provided to a sample and at least one second electro-magnetic radiation can be provided to a reference (e.g., a non-reflective reference). A frequency of such radiation(s) can repetitively vary over time with a first characteristic period. In addition, a polarization state of the first electro-magnetic radiation, the second electro-magnetic radiation, a third electro-magnetic radiation (associated with the first radiation) or a fourth electro-magnetic radiation (associated with the second radiation) can repetitively vary over time with a second characteristic period which is shorter than the first period. The data for imaging at least one portion of the sample can be provided as a function of the polarization state. In addition or alternatively, the third and fourth electro-magnetic radiations can be combined so as to determine an axial reflectance profile of at least one portion of the sample.

According to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first and/or second electro-magnetic radiations can be provided via a polarized source. The polarization state can be derived using a polarization modulator, a delayed interferometer, a frequency shifter and/or a birefringence medium. A polarization arrangement can be provided which may be configured to polarize the first, second, third and/or fourth electro-magnetic radiations. The first and/or second electro-magnetic radiations can be provided and the polarization state may be obtained via a polarization-modulated source. The third electro-magnetic radiation may be provided from the sample, and the fourth electro-magnetic radiation can be provided from the reference.

In a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to detect a first interference signal between the third and fourth radiations in a first polarization state, and a second interference signal between the third and fourth electro-magnetic radiations in a second polarization state, with the first and second polarization states being different from one another. The first and second interference signals can be digitized, and polarization properties of at least one portion of the sample may be determined. The first and second polarization states may be approximately orthogonal with respect to one another.

According still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, at least one image of polarization properties of the sample can be generated. The polarization properties may include a birefringence, an axis of the birefringence, a diattenuation and/or an axis of the diattenuation.

According yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first characteristic period can be shorter than the second characteristic period by approximately 100 microseconds. The frequency of the first and/or second electro-magnetic radiation scan be varied by approximately at least 1 Terra Hz within the first characteristic period and/or at most 100 GHz within the second characteristic period. The second period can be shorter than approximately 1/10 of the first period.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures showing illustrative embodiments of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a configuration of an exemplary conventional OFDI system;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of another conventional OFDI system employing a polarization diversity detection arrangement/technique;

FIG. 3A is a block diagram of still a conventional polarization-sensitive OFDI system;

FIG. 3B is plots of polarization states and an output provided by the OFDI system of FIG. 3A;

FIGS. 4A-4C are plots of states, clock output and signals for a polarization-sensitive OFDI system, method and arrangement which uses a fast polarization modulation technique, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5 a high-level flow diagram of a signal processing technique and method in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6A is a block diagram of one exemplary embodiment of a polarization modulation arrangement/system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6B is a block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of the polarization modulation arrangement/system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6C is a block diagram of still another exemplary embodiment of the polarization modulation arrangement/system in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 6D is a block diagram of yet another exemplary embodiment of the polarization modulation arrangement/system accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of a balanced detection arrangement/system having more than one signal carrying channel;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a second exemplary embodiment of the balanced detection arrangement/system having a single signal carrying channel;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a third exemplary embodiment of the balanced detection arrangement/system having a single signal carrying channel;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a fourth exemplary embodiment of the balanced detection arrangement/system having a single signal carrying channel;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a fifth exemplary embodiment of the balanced detection arrangement/system having a single signal carrying channel;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a sixth exemplary embodiment of the balanced detection arrangement/system having a single signal carrying channel;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a seventh exemplary embodiment of the balanced detection arrangement/system having a single signal carrying channel and a non-reflective reference.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of an eighth exemplary embodiment of the balanced detection arrangement/system having a single signal carrying channel and a non-reflective reference;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a ninth exemplary embodiment of the balanced detection arrangement/system having a single signal carrying channel and a non-reflective reference; and

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a tenth exemplary embodiment of the balanced detection arrangement/system having a single signal carrying channel and a non-reflective reference.

Throughout the figures, the same reference numerals and characters, unless otherwise stated, are used to denote like features, elements, components or portions of the illustrated embodiments. Moreover, while the subject invention will now be described in detail with reference to the figures, it is done so in connection with the illustrative embodiments. It is intended that changes and modifications can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the true scope and spirit of the subject invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary conventional OFDI system, which includes a light source 10, a fiber-optic interferometer, and a detection arrangement, as described in S. H. Yun et al., “High-speed optical frequency-domain imaging,” Opt. Express 11, 2953-2963 (2003). The output wavelength of an electro-magnetic radiation provided by the light source 10 can be swept in time over a spectral range. Preferably, the tuning is such that the output wave number, k, is given as a linear function of time. However, usually k may be given as a nonlinear function of time, and the nonlinearity may be corrected in signal processing. The interferometer can include a fused coupler 20 made of single-mode optical fibers. One port of the coupler 20 can serve as a reference arm 22 with a reference mirror 24. The other port of the couple 20 may act as a sample arm 30 that is connected to a probe 40. The probe 40 generally focuses and collects a sample light 42 to and from a sample 44, respectively. For example, the output of the light source 10 can be singly polarized.

A polarization controller 50 may be used to align the polarization states between the reference light returning from the mirror 24 and the sample light returning from the tissue 44. The interference signal between the reference and sample light can be measured using a photo detector 60. The detector signal can be digitized with a analog-to-digital board 70, processed and converted to images at a computer 72. The detector output can be sampled uniformly in time, and interpolation of the sampled data is performed to generate an interference signal in a linear k-space prior to a discrete Fourier transform. Alternatively, the detector signal may be sampled linearly in the k space with non-uniform sampling time intervals. An axial line (A-line) in the image can be obtained via a discrete Fourier transform of the digital data acquired during each wavelength scan of the light source 10. A cross-sectional image may be generated by acquiring multiple A-lines as the probe beam 42 is laterally scanned across the sample 44. The use of single photo detector 60 likely results that principally the polarization component in the sample light that is aligned to the reference polarization state can be detected, whereas the orthogonal polarization component would likely be lost. However, the polarization diversity may solve this problem.

FIG. 2 shows another conventional OFDI system employing a polarization diversity scheme, with the same reference numbers provided in this diagram being associated with such components/features described above with respect to FIG. 1. This conventional system further includes acousto-optic frequency shifters 100, 102, and magneto-optic circulators 106, 108. One of the frequency shifters 100, 102 may not be needed. The frequency shifters 100, 102 can eliminate the ambiguity in interference signals between positive and negative depths, effectively increasing the depth range. Light returning from the reference mirror 24 and the sample 44 can be combined using a 50/50 fused coupler. The polarization diversity detection is shown in a dotted box 120. Each output port of the coupler 20 can be connected to a polarization beam splitter 130 and/or 132, via a polarization controller 136 and/or 138. The polarization controllers 136, 138 allow the birefringence of the two fiber paths from the coupler to be matched the reference light with an approximately equal ratio at the polarization splitters 130, 132. Corresponding polarization states following the splitters, labeled x or y, can be directed to dual balanced detectors 140, 142. The detector signals may be low-pass filtered and digitized with a two-channel analog-to-digital board 150 and a computer 152. The two channel data can be independently processed to provide two intensity images. The two images may be added to generate polarization-diverse images having greatly suppressed polarization-induced artifacts.

Polarization-sensitive OCT is a technique which can be used to obtain cross-sectional images of at least a part of the tissue using the tissue birefringence as the contrast, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,208,415. For example, a polarization modulator can be used which alternates the polarization state of light entering a sample between two states orthogonal to each other in the Poincare sphere, a relation referred to as “semi-orthogonal” polarization states herein below. An example pair of the two states can be linear polarization states with 45-degree angle with respect to each other, e.g., X and X+Y states. This provides that at least one of the two input polarization states is/are aligned to the birefringence axes of the tissue, facilitating the depth-dependent birefringence measurement. The principle of the PS-OCT and signal processing algorithm is well known in the art.

A similar technique can be used with the OFDI system, as described in J. Zhang et al. “Full range polarization-sensitive Fourier domain optical coherence tomography”, Optics Express 12, 6033-6039 (2004), using a swept laser, as provided in U.S. Pat. No. 6,208,415. For example, FIG. 3A shows a block diagram of another conventional system described in the above-referenced Zhang publication, with the same reference numbers provided in this diagram being associated with such components/features described above with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2. For example, an electro-optic polarization modulator 170 can be placed in the source arm 30. This arrangement 170 can modulate the polarization state of the source light periodically in time between two “semi-orthogonal” polarization states, as illustrated in FIG. 3B. The modulation cycle can be synchronized to the wavelength scan. The detection port can include a polarization beam splitter 180 and two or more photo detectors 190, 192. The polarization state of reference light can be controlled using the polarization controller 50 to divide the reference with an equal intensity at the polarization splitter 180. The interference signal can be collected with a two-channel analog-to-digital converter 150 and a computer 152. Each pair of successive polarization measurements during a complete polarization modulation cycle can form a single axial birefringence profile of a sample via a vector analysis that is known in the art. One drawback of this exemplary technique is that it relies on the substantial overlap of probe beam in the sample between the two A-line scans to avoid speckle-induced errors. Furthermore, due to the relatively long delay between A-line scans, such technique may be sensitive to mechanical motion of sample or catheter.

Thus, it may be beneficial to determine a balance between the accuracy in birefringence measurement and the image acquisition speed, as well as address other deficiencies.

According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, at least some of the above-described deficiencies can be overcome, which are beneficial in high-speed OFDI applications. For example, it may be beneficial to modulate the polarization state of the probe beam during each A-line scan. FIG. 4 depicts the concept. As shown in the graph of FIG. 4A, the polarization state of probe beam can be periodically varied between two states, e.g., semi-orthogonal to each other. The modulation frequency can be substantially higher than that of the wavelength sweep or A-line scan. The modulation frequency can be preferably a half or a quarter of the sampling rate, so that two adjacent samples may be associated with two different polarization states of the probe beam.

FIG. 4B shows a graph of another possible exemplary modulation format, i.e., a sinusoidal modulation. The polarization state may be varied between X and Y states, following a circle in the Poincare sphere. In this exemplary case, the modulation frequency can be a quarter of the sampling rate; during one modulation period, and thus, 4 samples may be acquired. As shown in the graphs of FIG. 4C, the first set of 4 samples can be labeled from 1 to 1′″, the next set from 2 to 2′″, and the last set from N to N′″, assuming a total 4N samples are acquired during a period of wavelength sweep or single A-line scan. The set can be demodulated with four groups (1, 2 . . . , N), (1′, 2′. . . , N′), (1″, 2″ . . . , N″), (1′″, 2′″ . . . , N′″), as illustrated in the flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the present invention shown in FIG. 5. The result can provide intensity and /or birefringence images. For example, the demodulation can be performed in a time domain or a frequency domain. Each group is processed to create an image associated with different polarization states. With known vector analysis, the spatial map of birefringence magnitude, birefringence axis, and attenuation can be determined.

This exemplary method and technique according the exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be implemented by operating the polarization modulator 170 with an appropriate voltage driver. For example, an Resonant electro-optic modulator may be used for a sinusoidal modulation. FIG. 6 depicts alternative schemes for the polarization modulation. FIG. 6A shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the system according to the present invention which utilizes a passive birefringence delay 200 in the sample arm 30, with the same reference numbers provided in this diagram being associated with such components/features described above with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2. The exemplary birefringence delay 200 can include a fiber-optic interferometer and/or a free-space interferometer which can include two or more polarization beam splitters 210, 212. The polarization states of the arms 220, 222 can be orthogonal to one another.

This exemplary arrangement can effectively result in a polarization modulation as the source's wavelength is varied. The delay, ΔL, between the arms 210, 212 can be selected to satisfy the equation ΔL*Δk=π/m, where Δk denotes the wave number difference between two adjacent samples or the spectral sampling interval, and m is an integer. A non-integer value for m is possible, and may use a frequency-domain demodulation. However, preferably, e.g., m=1 or 2. According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the birefringence delay may be a piece of high-birefringence optical fiber having ΔL=Δn*L, where An denotes the index difference between two eigen polarization states and L is the length of the fiber. The input polarization state to the birefringence delay can be adjusted such that each eigen state of the delay arrangement is actuated with an equal power. FIG. 6B depicts a diagram of another exemplary embodiment of the polarization modulation arrangement according to the present invention which includes a fiber-optic interferometer. For example, the polarization controllers 240, 242 shown in FIG. 6B (which is used for the birefringence delay 200 of FIG. 6A) can be adjusted to make the polarization states of the two arms semi-orthogonal to each other. The delay between the two semi-orthogonal states preferably satisfy ΔL*Δk=π/2.

In the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the polarization modulation can be effectuated by inducing a group delay between two polarization states. When the coherence length of the swept source 10 is finite, which may often be the case, these exemplary arrangements may generate a significant signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) degradation because the visibility decreases with the optical delay. To address this issue, a polarization modulation arrangement according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention that does not depend on the group delay, and instead takes into consideration a phase delay may be used. For example, an electro-optic modulation arrangement, as shown in FIG. 3A, can be used in accordance with the present invention to induces an essentially zero, or very small, group delay.

FIG. 6C shows still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention that uses acousto-optic frequency shifters 250, 252 to induce a continuous phase delay between two polarization states, which is used for the birefringence delay 200 of FIG. 6A. For example, as shown in FIG. 6C, another frequency shifter 254 may be employed in the reference arm 22. The exemplary mode of operation which uses the arrangement of FIG. 6C may be as follows: (a) the frequency shifter 250 may generate an up-shift by f_s/8, where f_s is the sampling rate, the shifter 252 can produce an up-shift by f_s/4, and the reference shifter 254 may yield a zero frequency shift; and/or (b) the magnitude of frequency shift by the devices 250, 252, 254 can be, respectively, zero, +f_s/8, and −f_s/8. For example, two images associated with the two different polarization states can be separated in the Fourier domain and further processed to obtain birefringence information or images. Other optional exemplary processing procedures in accordance with the present invention can include background subtraction, interpolation, windowing, or amplitude compensation, prior to the frequency domain demultiplexing. The signals may optionally be further compensated to remove any artifacts due to the acquisition. In this manner, phase variations between the signals due to the frequency shifters or exact path length difference between the two arms in the modulation arrangements can be addressed.

FIG. 6D shows yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention that uses acousto-optic frequency shifters 250, 252 to induce a continuous phase delay between two polarization states, which is used for the birefringence delay 200 of FIG. 6A. Another frequency shifter 254 may be employed in the reference arm 22. This exemplary section of the exemplary embodiment of the arrangement/system can utilize a first polarization beam splitter 256 to divide the input beam to two beams x, y with polarization states which are orthogonal to each other. After passing through the frequency shifters 250, 252, the two beams x, y are combined using a second polarization beam splitter 258. The combined optical output of this device has a rapid polarization change as a function of wavelength or time. A similar method as described in the previous paragraph can be used to demodulate the interference signal. The demodulation may be conducted either in the time domain or frequency domain.

Various configurations for detecting interference signals in more than one polarization basis are known in the art. These configurations can employ polarization beam splitters and multiple detectors. The reference beam may be divided into detectors with, e.g., an equal power. It is possible to implement a dual balanced detection to suppress the intensity noise of the light source and self interference noise. Various fiber- and free space-based schemes for simultaneous polarization sensitive and dual balanced detection are also known in the art.

As described above, using OFDI techniques and arrangement, it can be desirable to implement balanced detection techniques. However, the balanced detection techniques can complicate the fiber implementation of polarization sensitivity and polarization diversity. This may be because using the balance detection techniques and arrangements, the two signal channels that are balanced can have different polarization states.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of a balanced detection arrangement/system having more than one signal carrying channel, and illustrates the disadvantage of using the balanced detection techniques/arrangements with signal carrying channels in further detail. For example, electro-magnetic radiation or light being emitted from the source 10 can be connected or forwarded to a polarization controller 400, which can be optionally connected to a polarization modulator and/or birefringent material 405 (and/or the section of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6B or 6C). A circulator 106 can optionally direct the electro-magnetic radiation/light to a polarization modulator and/or birefringent material 410 (and/or one or more section of the exemplary embodiments as shown in FIG. 6B or 6C). The fused coupler 20 can direct the electro-magnetic radiation/light to the sample arm 30 via an optional polarization modulator and/or birefringent material 412 (and/or one or more sections of the exemplary embodiments as depicted in FIG. 6B or 6C), and reference arm 22 with a variable attenuator and/or polarization controller 430.

A fused coupler 420 can combine the electro-magnetic radiation/light returning from the sample arm 30 and the reference arm 22, and splits such combined signal/light/radiation into two portions A, B for a balanced detection. Polarizing beam splitters 130, 132 can split the combined signal/light/radiation to balanced detector channel pairs D1 (140), D2 (142). Both sections A, B can carry interference signals of the reference arm 22 and the sample arm 30 with an opposite phase. The polarization splitters which can be provided following the sections A, B split the interference signals in orthogonal polarizations, respectively. In an ideal exemplary case, the balanced detection channel (D1) 140 can balance the interference signals with an opposite phase and an equal polarization state. The same can occur for the balanced detection channel (D2) 142. However, due to possible alterations in the polarization states in the sections A, B that are different for the sections A, B, the balanced detection channel (D1) 140, (D2) 142 could be balancing the polarization states that are not equal.

As illustrated in FIG. 7 and described above, a balanced detection arrangement/system/technique that does not suffer from different polarization states therein may be desirable. For example, FIGS. 8-16 and associated description below illustrate and describe various exemplary embodiments of the balanced detection arrangements/systems/techniques, where the channels do not have to be balanced by two signal carrying channels, and possibly by a signal carrying channel and a reference channel. In these exemplary balanced detection embodiments, relative intensity noise from the source can be suppressed by such exemplary arrangements/systems/techniques.

For example, in FIG. 8 which shows a block diagram of a second exemplary embodiment of the balanced detection arrangement/system having a single signal carrying channel, the light source 10 can be connected to the polarization controller 400, which is connected to the optional polarization modulator and/or birefringent material 405 (and/or a section of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 6B or 6C). The electro-magnetic radiation/light can be directed to the circulator 106, which can direct the electro-magnetic radiation/light to the fused coupler 20, which can split the electro-magnetic radiation/light into the sample arm 30 and the reference arm 22. The electro-magnetic radiation/light from the sample arm 30 can travel back through the fused coupler 20, where it may interfere with the electro-magnetic radiation/light reflected from the reference arm, and directed by the circulator 106 to the polarization controller 400 and the polarization splitter 440, which splits the electro-magnetic radiation/light into orthogonal states. Interference fringes can be detected by the balanced detectors (D1) 140, (D2) 142.

The electro-magnetic radiation/light of the reference arm 22 can be coupled to the fused coupler 450, which can direct the larger fraction to the polarizer 460. Upon a reflection, the electro-magnetic radiation/light can travel back through a further polarizer 460 and another fused coupler 450, and may be split into a reference arm portion that couples to the fused coupler 20 for interference with the sample arm 30. The other portion can be a non-signal carrying reference channel for the balanced detection, which can be directed to the variable attenuator and/or polarization controller 430, and may form a balanced signal for the balanced receivers (D1) 140, (D2) 142. As shown in FIG. 8, the balanced receiver receives one signal carrying channel, and one reference channel that does not carry a signal, but likely can balance a relative intensity noise of the electro-magnetic radiation/light of the source 10.

In FIG. 9 which shows a block diagram of a third exemplary embodiment of the balanced detection arrangement/system having a single signal carrying channel, the alternate port of the fused coupler 450 can be used for the non-signal carrying reference channel.

In FIG. 10 which shows a block diagram of a fourth exemplary embodiment of the balanced detection arrangement/system having a single signal carrying channel, the non signal carrying reference channel can be obtained by a further fused coupler 470, which can be placed before the circulator 106.

In FIG. 11 which illustrates a block diagram of a fifth exemplary embodiment of the balanced detection arrangement/system having a single signal carrying channel, the non-signal carrying reference channel can be obtained by yet another fused coupler 480, which can be placed after the circulator 106.

In FIG. 12 which shows a block diagram of a sixth exemplary embodiment of the balanced detection arrangement/system having a single signal carrying channel, the non signal carrying reference channel can be obtained by yet another fused coupler 490, which can be placed before the polarization modulator and/or birefringent material 405 (and/or a section of an exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 6B or 6C).

FIG. 13 shows a block diagram of a seventh exemplary embodiment of the balanced detection arrangement/system having a single signal carrying channel and a non-reflective reference arm. In this exemplary embodiment, a fused coupler 500 can split the electro-magnetic radiation/light from the reference arm 22 into a non signal carrying reference directed to the attenuator and/or polarization controller 430, and a reference portion that is directed to the polarization controller 400 and a further fused coupler 510, where the a block diagram of a seventh exemplary embodiment of the balanced detection arrangement/system having a single signal carrying channel and a non-reflective reference/light from the reference arm 22 and the sample arm 30 interfere.

FIG. 14 shows a block diagram of an eighth exemplary embodiment of the balanced detection arrangement/system having a single signal carrying channel and a non-reflective reference arm, where the non signal carrying reference channel is obtained by the fused coupler 470, which can be placed before the circulator 106.

FIG. 15 shows a block diagram of a ninth exemplary embodiment of the balanced detection arrangement/system having a single signal carrying channel and a non-reflective reference arm. For example, the non-signal carrying reference channel can be obtained by the fused coupler 480, which may be placed following the circulator 106.

FIG. 16 shows a block diagram of a tenth exemplary embodiment of the balanced detection arrangement/system having a single signal carrying channel and a non-reflective reference arm. The-non signal carrying reference channel in this exemplary embodiment can be obtained by the fused coupler 490, which may be placed before the polarization modulator and/or birefringent material 405 (and/or a section of an exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 6B or 6C).

According to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention some, most or all connections can be provided through a free space propagation or by fiber optics, e.g., a single mode fiber.

The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the invention. Various modifications and alterations to the described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings herein. Indeed, the arrangements, systems and methods according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be used with any OCT system, OFDI system, SD-OCT system or other imaging systems, and for example with those described in International Patent Application PCT/US2004/029148, filed Sep. 8, 2004, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/266,779, filed Nov. 2, 2005, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/501,276, filed Jul. 9, 2004, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise numerous systems, arrangements and methods which, although not explicitly shown or described herein, embody the principles of the invention and are thus within the spirit and scope of the present invention. In addition, to the extent that the prior art knowledge has not been explicitly incorporated by reference herein above, it is explicitly being incorporated herein in its entirety. All publications referenced herein above are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 

1. An apparatus comprising: at least one first arrangement which is configured to provide at least one first electro-magnetic radiation to a sample and at least one second electro-magnetic radiation to a reference, wherein a frequency of radiation provided by the at least one first arrangement varies repetitively over time with a first characteristic period; at least one second arrangement which is configured to repetitively vary a polarization state of at least one of the first electro-magnetic radiation, the second electro-magnetic radiation, a third electro-magnetic radiation or a fourth electro-magnetic radiation over time with a second characteristic period; and at least one third arrangement which is configured to provide data for imaging at least one portion of the sample as a function of the polarization state, wherein the third electro-magnetic radiation is associated with the at least one first radiation and the fourth electro-magnetic radiation is associated with the at least one second radiation, and wherein the second period is shorter than the first period.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first arrangement is a polarized source.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second arrangement is at least one of a polarization modulator, a delayed interferometer, a frequency shifter or a birefringence medium.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first arrangement is an unpolarized source, and further comprising a polarization arrangement which is configured to polarize at least one of the first, second, third or fourth electro-magnetic radiations.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second arrangements are provided in a polarization-modulated source.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third electro-magnetic radiation is provided from the sample, and wherein the fourth electro-magnetic radiation is provided from the reference.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one fourth arrangement is configured to detect a first interference signal between the third and fourth radiations in a first polarization state; and at least one fifth arrangement is configured to detect a second interference signal between the third and fourth electro-magnetic radiations in a second polarization state, wherein the first and second polarization states are different from one another.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the fourth arrangement or the fifth arrangement is configured to receive a portion of at least one of the first electro-magnetic radiation, the second electro-magnetic radiation or the fourth electro-magnetic radiation, and wherein the fourth electro-magnetic radiation is provided from the reference.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising at least one sixth arrangement is configured to digitize the first and second interference signals, and determine polarization properties of at least one portion of the sample.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first and second polarization states are approximately orthogonal with respect to one another.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one third arrangement generates at least one image of polarization properties of the sample.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the polarization properties include at least one of a birefringence, an axis of the birefringence, a diattenuation, or an axis of the diattenuation.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reference is a non-reflective reference.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first characteristic period is shorter than approximately 100 microseconds.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frequency of the radiation provided by the at least one first arrangement is varied by approximately at least 1 Terra Hz within the first characteristic period.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frequency of the radiation provided by the at least one first arrangement is varied by approximately at most 100 GHz within the second characteristic period.
 17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second period is shorter than approximately 1/10 of the first period.
 18. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one second arrangement which includes a waveguide arrangement and which is configured to combine the third electro-magnetic radiation and the fourth electro-magnetic radiation so as to determine an axial reflectance profile of at least one portion of the sample during the first characteristic period.
 19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the data includes polarization properties of the sample.
 20. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the at least one waveguide second arrangement includes at least one optical fiber.
 21. An apparatus comprising: at least one first arrangement which is configured to provide at least one first electro-magnetic radiation to a sample and at least one second electro-magnetic radiation to a reference, wherein a frequency of radiation provided by the at least one first arrangement varies repetitively over time with a first characteristic period; at least one waveguide second arrangement which is configured to combine a third electro-magnetic radiation and a fourth electro-magnetic radiation, the third and fourth electromagnetic radiations being associated with the first and second electromagnetic radiations, respectively, so as to determine an axial reflectance profile of at least one portion of the sample; at least one third arrangement which is configured to repetitively vary a polarization state of at least one of the first electro-magnetic radiation, the second electro-magnetic radiation, the third electro-magnetic radiation or the fourth electro-magnetic radiation over time with a second characteristic period; and at least one fourth arrangement which is configured to provide data for imaging at least one portion of the sample as a function of the polarization state, wherein the second period is shorter than the first period.
 22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the at least one first arrangement is a polarized source.
 23. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the at least one third arrangement is at least one of a polarization modulator, a delayed interferometer, a frequency shifter or a birefringence medium.
 24. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the at least one first arrangement is an unpolarized source, and further comprising a polarization arrangement which is configured to polarize at least one of the first, second, third or fourth electro-magnetic radiations.
 25. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the first and third arrangements are provided in a polarization-modulated source.
 26. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the third electro-magnetic radiation is provided from the sample, and wherein the fourth electro-magnetic radiation is provided from the reference.
 27. The apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising: at least one fifth arrangement is configured to detect a first interference signal between the third and fourth radiations in a first polarization state; and at least one sixth arrangement is configured to detect a second interference signal between the third and fourth electro-magnetic radiations in a second polarization state, wherein the first and second polarization states are different from one another.
 28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein at least one of the fifth arrangement or the sixth arrangement is configured to receive a portion of at least one of the first electro-magnetic radiation, the second electro-magnetic radiation or the fourth electro-magnetic radiation, and wherein the fourth electro-magnetic radiation is provided from the reference.
 29. The apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising at least one seventh arrangement is configured to digitize the first and second interference signals, and determine polarization properties of at least one portion of the sample.
 30. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the first and second polarization states are approximately orthogonal with respect to one another.
 31. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the at least one fourth arrangement generates at least one image of polarization properties of the sample.
 32. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the polarization properties include at least one of a birefringence, an axis of the birefringence, a diattenuation, or an axis of the diattenuation.
 33. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the reference is a non-reflective reference.
 34. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the first characteristic period is shorter than approximately 100 microseconds.
 35. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the frequency of the radiation provided by the at least one first arrangement is varied by approximately at least 1 Terra Hz within the first characteristic period.
 36. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the frequency of the radiation provided by the at least one first arrangement is varied by approximately at most 100 GHz within the second characteristic period.
 37. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the second period is shorter than approximately 1/10 of the first period.
 38. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the axial reflectance profile is determined during a first characteristic period.
 39. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the data includes polarization properties of the sample.
 40. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the at least one waveguide second arrangement includes at least one optical fiber.
 41. A method comprising for providing data associated with a sample: providing at least one first electro-magnetic radiation to the sample and at least one second electro-magnetic radiation to a reference, wherein a frequency of at least one of the first and second radiations varies repetitively over time with a first characteristic period; repetitively varying a polarization state of at least one of the first electro-magnetic radiation, the second electro-magnetic radiation, a third electro-magnetic radiation or a fourth electro-magnetic radiation over time with a second characteristic period; and providing the data for imaging at least one portion of the sample as a function of the polarization state, wherein the third electro-magnetic radiation is associated with the at least one first radiation and the fourth electro-magnetic radiation is associated with the at least one second radiation, and wherein the second period is shorter than the first period.
 42. A method comprising for providing data associated with a sample: providing at least one first electro-magnetic radiation to the sample and at least one second electro-magnetic radiation to a reference, wherein a frequency of radiation provided by the at least one first arrangement varies repetitively over time with a first characteristic period; combining a third electro-magnetic radiation and a fourth electro-magnetic radiation, the third and fourth electromagnetic radiations being associated with the first and second electromagnetic radiations, respectively, so as to determine an axial reflectance profile of at least one portion of the sample; repetitively varying a polarization state of at least one of the first electro-magnetic radiation, the second electro-magnetic radiation, the third electro-magnetic radiation or the fourth electro-magnetic radiation over time with a second characteristic period; and providing the data for imaging at least one portion of the sample as a function of the polarization state, wherein the second period is shorter than the first period. 